Tragedy was averted Monday after two children were rescued from storm water floods at approximately 2 p.m. at Lincoln Draw in Hays.

Following a report of two children being swept into the Lincoln drainage tunnel at 19th Street, emergency responders were deployed from 19th to Eighth to find them, according to Gary Brown, Hays fire chief. A 10-year-old child traveled the distance and reached the outlet at Eighth, where HFD responders picked her up. The child was taken to Hays Medical Center in good condition.

The other child, a 14-year-old, was found at home after she rescued herself. The girl was taken to HaysMed as a precaution.

City departments, Ellis County Sheriff's Office, Fort Hays State University Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol searched manhole by manhole for her and downstream near Big Creek.

Brown said the incident demonstrates the danger of running water.

"Children naturally find that to be attractive. It's a draw for children to come to look at that, and parents need to impress on their children how dangerous that is so they keep a safe distance from the danger," he said.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the cooperation of all the emergency responders led to a positive outcome.

"I was grateful for the professionalism and the hard work of all the responders," he said. "We had first responders from about every agency in Ellis County quickly respond and working together as a team."